Bad sectors show up on my 75GXP...

[btvillarin]

My 30GB 75GXP finally started messing up. In Windows XP, I was running a long download overnight, only to wake up to turn on the screen and see that it was all blue, indicated a very critical error. I couldn't get out of it, so I had to press reset. Then, 10 minutes into Morpheus, it started slowing up. I heard some grinding from the HD. I tried restoring a recent known-good configuration, but it was grinding as well.

I decided it was time to whip out Drive Fitness Test. 10 minutes into the Advanced Test, I heard intervals of grinding. Unfortunately, it didn't give me an RMA # (which I would rather have), but a popup informed me that I had bad sectors, and it needed to erase the whole disk. At least I have a spare hard drive to use.

Now, it's been 5 hours into erase disk, and it doesn't show any sign of speeding up. Any advice? My current computer (an old Packard Bell) is really crusty, and I don't have the time to wait for my hard drive to get completely erased. It looks like it'll take more than one day.

Any advice? I'm thinking right now that I'm gonna cancel it, unplug it, partition my 2nd HD to accomodate Windows, and restore my image to it. Does this sound reasonable? If so, what would I do with the 75GXP? I can't erase it on any other computer. Do you think I should contact IBM? Someone please help me ASAP. This downtime is killin' me softly...


<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/btvillarin" target="_new">My Website</A>-<b>reorganized</b> & updated everyday

 

[Lars_Coleman]

Get the drive replaced. As far as what I have seen in the forum IBM has been replacing those 75GXP's for 60GXP's.

<font color=red>People and hard drives are like bandwagon fans and sports!</font color=red>

 

[btvillarin]

Update:
I cancelled the erase disk (taking forever). I rebooted into DFT again, and now it's not even recognized. I got the RMA number, called IBM this morning, and told me to go online and enter my information. So, I ordered some packaging materials (I bought it OEM of course) from this online place they linked to, and I'm awaiting those. After all, I don't want to void my warranty.

I hope you're right about them replacing 75GXPs with a 60GXP. I'll probably get a 40GB one. For now, I've been able to repartition my 2nd HD to accomodate WinXP, and I guess I'll be okay for now.

<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/btvillarin" target="_new">My Website</A>-<b>reorganized</b> & updated everyday

 

[Lars_Coleman]

You could always scrap it and buy a Maxtor drive?

<font color=red>People and hard drives are like bandwagon fans and sports!</font color=red>

 

[ycs46241]

get a hold of ibm and tell thier support

 

[btvillarin]

Did you read my last post? I already did...

<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/btvillarin" target="_new">My Website</A>-<b>reorganized</b> & updated everyday

 

[Guest]

replace the 75GXP for 60 GXP? I think 60GXP is an older model, isn't?

 

[Guest]

I had the same drive, bought it in April 01 and died in Nov 01.

There is also a class action law suit against IBM you might be interested in... http://www.sheller.com/ibmclassaction.htm

 

[Toejam31]

No, the 60GXP is the newer series, despite the lower number.

Toejam31

<font color=red>My Rig:</font color=red> <A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?rigid=6847" target="_new"><font color=green>Toejam31's Tantalizing Tantric Toy</font color=green></A>
____________________________________________________________

<font color=purple>"Procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part."</font color=purple>

 

[btvillarin]

Yeah, it's interesting the way they named it.

An update to my situation:
The packaging company just shipped my packing materials. Hopefully, I can get it by Friday, ship it Saturday, and be lucky to expect a replacement in two weeks. I hope everything will be okay with my WD hard drive...

<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/btvillarin" target="_new">My Website</A>-<b>reorganized</b> & updated everyday

 

[lagger]

I just rma'd a 1 yr old dltla 30 and am dismayed to read in the class action that they are replacing the defective drives with used still defective drives

lagger

<b><font color=blue>** Speed 2108(down)/365(up) kbps **
(At least 42 times faster than a 56k modem) </font color=blue>

 

[btvillarin]

I'll be sure to check out what they send me. I sure hope they don't send another 75GXP as a replacement. I'm still waiting for my packaging material to come in. It was sent on the 1/29, and it's still not here.

<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/btvillarin" target="_new">My Website</A>-<b>reorganized</b> & updated everyday